Device for projecting projectiles at cyclically varying azimuth and altitudes

ABSTRACT

Balls are thrown from a rotating spiral-shaped guideway by the action of the centrifugal force through an outlet which is opened for the passage of an ejected ball. The speed of rotation, the elevation angle, the azimuth angle, and the frequency of the ejections are cyclically varied by rotary cams driven from an electric motor.

United States Patent Paul lluerlimann Zentralsh'asse64'CH-5430,Wettingen, Switzerland Nov. 8, 1968 Aug. 31, 1971 Nov. 21, 1967Switzerland [72] Inventor Appl. No. Filed Patented Priority DEVICE FORPROJECTING PROJECTILES AT CYCLICALLY VARYING AZIMUTH AND ALTITUDES 17Claims, 11 Drawing Figs.

Int. Cl. F411) 15/00 Field Search 9, 29, 32, 41; 273/26 D, 29 A; 318/164v l24/6y- [24/31,]24/41, 273/26 D. 124/29 A, 124/50 [56] RelerencesCited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,462,354 7/1923 Pero 318/164 1,472,08010/1923 McNaier 124/6 1,783,053 1 H1930 Baden-Powell.... 124/6 2,587,6873/1952 Beyers 124/29 X 2,603,203 7/1952 Herold 124/6 3,277,879 10/1966.Iayette 124/41 Primary Examiner- Richard C. Pinkham AssistantExaminer-William R. Browne Anorney -Michael S. Striker ABSTRACT: Ballsare thrown from a rotating spiral-shaped guideway by the action of thecentrifugal force through an outlet which is opened for the passage ofan ejected ball. The speed of rotation, the elevation angle, the azimuthangle, and the frequency of the ejections are cyclically varied byrotary cams driven from an electric motor.

PATENTEU Aunl IHTI SHEET 1 [IF 5 QM mm ms Kw PATENTED AUBB] ISYI SHEU 3BF 5 PATENTEU M831 197i SHEET LL [1F 5 FIG. 77

PATENTED AUG31 nan SHEET 5 OF 5 DEVICE FOR PROJECTING PRoJEcTiLiis ATCYCLICALLY VARYING AZIMUTH AND ALTITUDES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONTraining apparatus for throwing balls, or clay pigeons, is known bywhich the thrown objects are ejected by the release of a tensionedspring. The apparatus of the prior art is incapable for obtaining agreat variation of the trajectory of the ejected object, and is suitablefor simulating the conditions of a tennis game, or of other complicatedgames.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is one object of the invention to provide atraining apparatus for throwing objects, such as balls, along a greatnumber of different trajectories.

Another object of the invention is to provide a training apparatus bywhich objects are thrown along different cyclically varyingtrajectories.

Another object of the invention is to provide a training apparatus whichcan be set to throw balls along little changing trajectories forbeginners, and along very varied trajectories for advanced players.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for throwingballs along cyclically varying trajectories which can be furthergradually changed by a manual adjustment of the apparatus.

The apparatus comprises rotary throwing means having an axis ofrotation, and forming a spiral-shaped guideway having an inner endportion in the region of the axis provided with an inlet, and an outerend portion provided with an outlet so that an object, such as a ball,inserted through the inlet into the guideway is accelerated in the sameand driven to the outlet by the action of the centrifugal force. Closuremeans normally close the outlet, and are operated by actuating means toopen the outlet so that the object or ball is ejected through the openoutlet.

First control means, preferably including a first rotary cam, areprovided for varying the rotary speed of the throwing means and therebythe initial speed of the ball.

Second control means are provided for opening the closure means indifferent angular position of the throwing means whereby the elevationangle of the trajectory, and the distance which the balls are thrown arevaried. Preferably, second rotary cam effects cyclical variations of theelevation angles.

Third control means are provided for turning the throwing means about avertical axis to different azimuth angles, and preferably a third rotarycam effects a cyclical variation of the azimuth angles.

Fourth control means are provided for operating the actuating means toopen the closure means at predetermined intervals so that the frequencyof the succession of thrown balls can be varied. Preferably, a fourthrotary driven cam effects a cyclical variation of the frequency of thethrows. Each of the control cams is preferably exchangeable so that thepattern of the cyclically varied throws can be further modified.

Preferably, a transmission between the drive motor and the cams can bemanually varied for obtaining a gradual variation of the cyclicallymodified throws.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method ofoperation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, willbe best understood from the following description of specificembodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating anembodiment of the invention; 1

FIG. 2 is a side view of the apparatus taken in the direction of thearrow II in FIG. I;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the apparatus taken in the direction of thearrow III in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side view illustrating a detail of FIG. 3 on anenlarged scale;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on lines V-V in FIGS. 3 and4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary elevation taken in the direction of arrow VI inFIG. 1 and illustrating a detail of FIG. 2 on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional viewtaken on line VII- VII in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating an electric circuit foroperating the control means shown in FIGS. 6 and 7;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary side elevation illustrating a modification oftransmission means shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating the apparatus of FIG. 9;and

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary side elevation of an auxiliary device forcontinuously varying the rotary speed of the throwing means shown inFIGS. 1 to 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The embodiment illustrated inthe drawing is particularly suited for throwing tennis balls to apracticing player, but it will be understood that the device could beeasily adapted for throwing different types of balls, or other objects,such as clay pigeons.

As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, a throwing means includes a circular wall6 having an outlet 20, a pair of lateral walls 3 and 4 abutting thelateral edges of the circular wall 6, and being fixedly connected witheach other by bolts 5, and a spiralshaped wall 1 whose lateral edgesabut the end walls 3 and 4. The inner end of the spiral-shaped guidewall 1 is secured by a bolt 4a to the lateral walls 3 and 4, and theouter end is secured to the circular wall 6 by a bolt 6a. Theinner endportion of the spiral-shaped wall 1 has a smaller radius of curvaturethan the outer end portion thereof, which extends almost in tangentialdirection. Spiral-shaped wall 1 forms a spiralshaped guideway into whoseinner portion an inlet 19 in lateral wall 3 opens, while its outer endis located in the region of the outlet 20 which is laterally bounded bylateral walls 3 and 4, and circumferentially bounded by axiallyextending edges 6b of circular wall 6.

The throwing means 1, 2 to 6 is rotated about an axis 2 by a drive shaft7 secured by a flange 8 to the lateral wall 4. Shaft 7 is mounted forrotation in a support 9 and has an end portion 73 projecting from thesame and carrying a pulley 14. Support 9 is fixedly mounted on a tubularsupport 10 which is secured to a baseplate l 1 provided with an openingregistering with tubular support 10. A vertical supporting shaft 12 hasa flange 13 on which baseplate l1 rests, and passes through the openingin the baseplate 11, and through tubular support 10 so that supportmeans 9, 10, 11, together with shaft 7, and the throwing means 1 to 6carried by the same, can be turned about a vertical axis defined bysupport shaft 12.

Pulley 14 on the free end of shaft 7 is connected by a V-belt 15 with amotor pulley l6 which is connected with a motor 18 for rotation.Consequently, motor 18 rotates the throwing means 1 to 6 about axis 2 bymeans of shaft 7 and transmission 14, 15, 16 which is variable sincepulley 16 has two parts, one of which can be axially displaced againstthe action of a spring on motor shaft 17 whereby the transmission ratiois varied. The adjustment of the transmission ratio will be describedhereinafter in greater detail.

When the throwing means 1 to 6 is rotated in the direction of the arrowA, and a tennis ball is inserted through the circular inlet 19 which isconcentric with the axis 2, the ball is driven by the action of thecentrifugal force in guideway 1a along the spiral-shaped wall 1 to theoutlet 20 which is normally closed by closure means 21. Closure means 21include a double-armed lever 22 secured to a pin 23 whichis turnable inbearing openings in lateral walls 3 and 4. A latch 24 has a shoulder 26arresting one arm of lever 22 in the closed position of the closuremeans 21 illustrated in FIG. 3. Latch 24 is secured to a pin 25 mountedon sidewalls 3, 4 for turning movement, and has an end portion 24aprojecting inward through opening 20. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, thefree end portion 24a is bent and normally engages a recess 28 in atrigger rod 27 which is mounted for turning movement in lateral walls 3and 4, and has a transverse actuating portion 27a located outside ofwall 4, as also shown in FIG. 1. Trigger rod 27 is turnable between twoposition in which portion 27a abuts stops 29 and 30, and is preventedfrom axial movement by a pair of holding rings 31 secured by screws 32and located on opposite sides of lateral wall 3. Screws 32 are urged bythe centrifugal force to turn trigger rod 27 to a position in whichactuating portion 27a abuts stop 30. In this illustrated position, latchportion 24a is located in recess 28.

When trigger rod 27 is turned to a position abutting the other stop 29,the circular portion of trigger rod 27 engages latch portion 240 insteadof recess 28 so that latch 24 is turned in clockwise direction, asviewed in FIG. 3, to a position releasing double-armed lever 22.

A screw 33 (see FIGS. 1 and 3) is threaded into a bore of pin 25 whichis secured to, and supports latch 24, and due to the mass of screw 33,the centrifugal force urges latch 24 to move in counterclockwisedirection to the illustrated position arresting closure lever 22.

A ball inserted through inlet 19 is accelerated and outwardly driven tooutlet 20, but can pass through the same only when trigger rod 27 isturned to displace latch 24 in clockwise direction so that closure lever22 can'be turned in counterclockwise direction by the ball passingthrough the outlet. Due to the action of the centrifugal force acting onscrew 33, latch 24 is turned back into its normal position, and its endportion 24a engages again recess 28 of trigger rod 27 when the same hasbeen returned to the position abutting stop by the centrifugal forceacting on screws 32.

The free closure lever 22 is urged by the centrifugal force to turn to asubstantially radial position so that the next following ball engagesthe inner arm of closure lever 22 and turns the same until its end isengaged by shoulder 26. Pins 23 and 25 have pulley portions over whichan endless string or cord 24 passes so that the turning movement ofclosure lever 22 due to the pressure of the driven ball, is transmittedto pin 25, turning latch 24 into the position engaging closure lever 22,aiding the centrifugal action of screw 33.

As explained above, in order to release a ball from the throwing means,it is necessary to turn trigger rod 27 from the illustrated positionabutting stop 30 to a position abutting stop 29. This is accomplished byactuating means including a carrier plate 35 which has a central borethrough which shaft 7 passes. The means by which the angular position ofcarrier 35 is determined will be described hereinafter, but carrier 35can only; perform a very limited angular movement, and may be consideredstationary as compared with the rotary movement of throwing means 1 to6.

As best seen in FIGS. 6 and 7, an actuator 36 passes through an openingin carrier plate 35 and has two end flanges. A spring 37 urges actuator36 from the position illustrated in solid lines to the positionillustrated in chain lines in FIG. 7, located in the circular path ofactuator portion 27a, as shown in FIG. 2 of trigger rod 27. A stopmember 38 is mounted on carrier plate 35 on a pivot screw 39 and isurged by a spring 40 to the position illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 inwhich stop member 38 holds actuator 36 in the illustrated inoperativeposition. Stop member 38 is secured to a leaf spring 42 mounted oncarrier plate 35 and forming the armature of an electromagnet 41. Asshown in FIG. 8, electromagnet 41 is connected into a circuit 43including a switch 44 operated by a cam 66 on a shaft 60 and having acam lug 67 for operating switch 44, as best seen in FIG. 1. Switch 44 isclosed at a selected frequency by cam 66, 67, and every timeelectromagnet 41 is energized, stop member 38 is moved from itsillustrated holding position to a position releasing actuator 36 whichis urged by spring 37 to move axially into the circular path of movementof actuating portion 27a. During rotation of throwing means 1 to 6,actuating portion 27a abuts actuator 36 in its operative position, andis turned to the position abutting stop 29 so that latch 24 is releasedfrom the recess 28 of trigger rod 27 and turns a small angular distanceclockwise, as viewed in FIG. 3 so that shoulder 26 releases the outerend of lever 22 which is turned by the centrifugal force to asubstantially radial position whereby the closure means 21 is opened,permitting the ball to pass through the outlet opening 20. Actuator 36is just passed by stop 29. Further turning of throwing means 1-6 withlateral wall 4 brings a leaf spring 45 on lateral wall 4 into contactwith actuator 36 (see FIG. 2) which is axially pushed from its operativeposition back into its inoperative position against the action of spring37, whereupon electromagnet 41 is deenergized by switch 44 and spring 42moves stop member 38 into the illustrated blocking position in whichactuator 36 is held inoperative and located outside of the path ofmovement of actuator portion 27a with wall 4.

If actuator 36 would not be returned to the inoperative position,closure means 21 would be again opened after each following revolutionand permit the throwing of a ball, which may cause a undesirably highfrequency of the throws.

The elevation angle of the trajectory of the thrown ball depends on theangular position of opening 20 when closure means 21 is opened. Thedistance of a throw depends on the elevation angle and is greatest foran elevation angle of about 45. Therefore, the distance of each throwdepends on the moment in which the closure means 21 is opened byactuator 36. By adjusting the angular position of actuator 36 inrelation to the horizontal axis of rotation defined by shaft 7 theelevation angle of the outlet 20 at the moment of opening, and thereforethe elevation angle of the vector representing the initial speed of theball can be varied so that, for the same rotary speed of the throwingmeans and initial speed of the ejected ball, the throws are of differentheight and length. If actuator 36 remains in the same position, andsupport 9 is not turned with throwing means I to 6 about shaft 12, alltrajectories have the same length and height, and are located in thesame vertical plane so that a practicing player will hardly have tochange his position for returning the balls. However, the time intervalsbetween successive throws are determined by the rotary speed of cam 66.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a vertical shaft 60 passes through support 9and carries cam '66 which cooperates with switch 44 by its lug 67.A-worm gear 62 is secured to shaft 60 and meshes with a worm 65connected with a pulley 64 and driven by a belt 63 from the dividedpulley 16 on motor shaft 17. As noted above, pulley I6 is also used fordriving shaft 7 with throwing means I to 6 by means ofa belt 15.

Control means are provided for varying the angle of elevation ofsuccessive throws. As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, a link 49 is securedby a pivot screw 50 to carrier plate 35. The free end of link 49 isconnected by a universal joint with a cam follower lever 52 mounted onsupport 9 for turning movement about a pivot 53 and carrying a camfollower roller 54 cooperating with a cam 55 driven by a cam shaft 57.Shaft 60, which carries the switch cam 67 also carries a fixed gear 59meshing with the gear 58 on cam shaft 57 so that cam 55 is driven frommotor 18. The peripheral cam track ofcam 55 has several irregular lobescooperating with cam follower roller 54 to oscillate the cam followermeans 52, 49 and thereby carrier plate 45 with actuator 36 about shaft7. A pretensioned spring 56 connects carrier plate 35 with support 70and biases carrier plate 35 and cam follower means 49, 52, 54 normallyinto engagement with cam 55, but permitting limited angular movement ofcarrier plate 35 about shaft 7 under the control of the lobes of cam 55while spring 56 is tensioned. During rotation of cam 55, carrier plate35 freely oscillates with actuator 36 about shaft-7 so that the angularposition of actuator 36 is cyclically varied, and actuator portion 27ais engaged in different angular positions of the throwing means 1 to 6so that closure 21 is opened when outlet 20 is in different angularpositions corresponding to different angles of elevation of thetrajectory of the thrown ball.

Cam 57 can be exchanged for another cam having differently arranged camlobes whereby the elevation angles are changed in a different cycleresulting in different sequence of throws having different lengths. Theinterval between the throws, in other words the frequency of the throws,is controlled by cam 66, and depends on the number of lobes 67 on thesame since electromagnet 41 is controlled by switch 44 to operate stopmember 38 to release actuator 36 to move into the path of movement ofactuator portion 27a which effects 'opening of the closure means 21.Between each throw, the

throwing means 1 to 6 may perform several revolutions with closure 21closed.

By the above described control means, the apparatus is operated to makethrows of different lengths under the control of cam 55, and if desired,different frequencies under the control of cam 66, 67, in the samevertical plane.

Control means are provided for varying the horizontal angular directionof the throws, in other words the azimuth angle of the trajectories. Asexplained above, support 9 by which shaft 7 and throwing means 1 to 6are carried, is turnable about the vertical shaft 12. As shown in FIGS,1 and 2, a stationary cam follower means 68 carrying a cam followerroller 71 is fixedly secured to the fixed shaft 12 and has a freeportion connected by a spring 69 to a screw 70 threaded into support 9.Spring 69 is pretensioned and angularly displaces support 9 with tubularsupport member 10 and baseplate 11 about support shaft 12 so that camshaft 57, which is mounted on support 9, see FIG. 2, and a fixed cam 72thereon, are normally in a position in which the peripheral cam track ofcam 72 engages cam follower roller 71. Cam 72 has irregular cam lobesand is driven with cam shaft 57 from motor 18, as described above, andeach lobe causes angular displacement of support 9, and of shaft 7 withthrowing means 1 to 6 about fixed shaft 12.

Depending on the shape of the cam lobes of cam 72, support 9, and alsothrowing means 1 to 6, cyclically oscillate about the vertical axis ofshaft 12 so that the balls are ejected in different directions atdifferent azimuth angles. By selecting the lobes of cams 55 and 72, isis possible to throw successive balls into different corners of thetennis court, and for advanced players, successive balls may be throwninto a far corner on one side of the court and to a spot adjacent thenet on the other side of the court.

The above-described control means obtain variations of the throws, butit has been assumed that the initial speed of each thrown ball is thesame. Control means are provided to vary the speed at which the ball isejected from the outlet 20 of throwing means 1 to 6. The end portion 73of shaft 7 supports between pulley 14 and support 4, an angular lever74, as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. One arm of angular lever 74 carries apulley 75 about which a portion of the endless belt 15 passes by whichthe divided motor pulley 16 is connected with the drive pulley 14 onshaft 7. The other arm of angular lever 74 is connected by a joint 74awith a link 76 connected by a universal joint 76a with the end of a camfollower lever 77 which carries a follower roller 78 cooperating withthe peripheral track of a cam 79 mounted on cam shaft 57.

As explained above, the outer half of the divided pulley 16 is mountedon motor shaft 17 for axial movement against the action of a spring 80.During rotation of cam 79, cam follower means 77, 76, 74 displace pulley75, see FIG. 2, so that the loop of belt 15 is tensioned, and one halfof the divided V-pulley 16 is axially displaced whereby the effectiveradius of pulley 16 acting on belt 15 is reduced, and the transmissionratio of the transmission 14, 15, 16 varied. Since the variation of theeffective radius of pulley 16, and the corresponding variation of thetransmission ratio between motor shaft 18 and shaft 7 of the throwingmeans 1 to 6 are cyclically changed by the lobes of cam 79, the rotaryspeed of throwing means 1 to 6 is continuously and cyclically varied, sothat the initial speed of successive thrown balls varies. A throw at anincreased initial speed can be combined with a small elevation angle ofoutlet 20 when the same is opened, so that a flat and long throw iseffected. As cams 72 and 75, cam 79 can be exchange for another camhaving differently arranged and shaped cam lobes.

An auxiliary device, which can be combined with the abovedescribedapparatus, is illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10. As described above, controlmeans are provided, including cam 72 for cyclically varying the azimuthangle of the throwing means 1 to 6, cam 55 for cyclically varying theelevation angles of the throws, cam 79 for varying the rotary speed ofthe throwing means, and cam 66 for varying the frequency of successivethrows. The auxiliary device illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10 permits asimultaneous, continuous, and gradual variations of the cyclicalvariations obtained by the cams 66, 55, 72, and 79 of the control means.

As shown in FIG. 2, belt 63 directly connects the divided V- pulley 16with pulley 64, but in the modified construction of FIGS. 9 and 10, apulley 81 on motor shaft 17 is connected by a belt 63 with a dividedV-pulley 82. One half of pulley 82 is fixed to a shaft 83 which ismounted for rotation in a frame 84 having two lateral legs 85 and 86whose lower ends are turnably mounted on journals 86 and 87 at the endsof a worm spindle 65. The'upper ends of legs 85 and 86 are connected bya rod 89 which has journals at the ends mounted in legs 85 and 86.Journals 87 and 88 of worm spindle 65 are mounted in bearings 90 and 91which are fixed on the baseplate 11. A threaded spindle 92 is mounted ina thrust bearing on a bracket 93 on baseplate 11, and can be turned byhandle 94. The thread of the spindle 92 meshes with a threaded boretraversing connecting rod 89 of frame 84. When handle 94 is rotated,frame 84 is turned about journals 87, 88 since connecting rod 89 ismoved in the directions of the arrows B. When pulley 82 is moved awayfrom pulley 18, the greater tension applied by belt 63 to the dividedpulley 82 forces the axially movable half of the same against the actionof the spring 95 away from the other half of pulley 82 so that theeffective radius of pulley 82 is reduced, and the transmission ratiobetween the shaft 17 of motor 18 and shaft 83 is varied. Shaft 83carries another V-pulley 96 connected by belt 97 to pulley 64 which issecured to worm spindle 65 so that the same is rotated at a speeddepending on the adjusted transmission ratio, and drives through wormgear 62 and shaft 60, control cams 67, 55, 72, 79 at gradually andselectively varied rotary speeds.

The combination of the modification of FIGS. 9 and 10 with the apparatusillustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3 permits a gradual, continuous, and selectivevariation of the factors which influence the trajectories of the thrownballs within certain limits. However, for a motor 18 having apredetermined rotary speed, there is no possibility of varying theaverage initial speed of the thrown balls, and the average distancewhich the balls are thrown.

The modification illustrated in FIG. 11 serves the purpose to providecontrol means for varying the rotary speed of throwing means 1 to 6within a wide range. While in the construction shown in FIG. 2,baseplate 11 is secured to tubular support member 10 and rests on aflange 13 of shaft 12, in the embodiment of FIG. 11, baseplate 11 isaxially movable along the tubular support member 10 which directly restson flange 13 of shaft 12 and carries support 9, as described withreference to FIG. 2. Tubular support member 10 carries a fixed arm 98with a thrust bearing in which a spindle 99 is mounted for rotation.Spindle 99 passes through a bore in baseplate 11', and by operation ofhandle 99a, baseplate 11' with motor 18 and pulley 16 can be raisedtoward support 9, or lowered away from the same. Since pulley I6 is adivided V- pulley, as explained with reference to FIG. 1, the axiallymovable half of pulley 16 is moved away from the other half which isfixed to shaft 17 when baseplate 11 with motor 18 and pulley 16 isdownwardly moved away from support 9, not shown in FIG. 11. The tensionof pulley 15 urges the movable pulley half away from the other pulleyhalf so that the effective radius of pulley 16 is reduced, and thetransmission ratio to pulley 14, see FIGS. 1 and 2 is varied and therotary speed of throwing means 1 to 6 is reduced. Due to the axialdisplacement of baseplate 1 1, it is necessary to construct shaft 60,not shown in FIG. 1 l, as a telescopic shaft consisting of two axiallyslidable shaft portions connected for rotation with each other, forexample two hollow prismatic shafts.

By the variable transmission 16, 17, 14 between motor 18 and drive shaft7 which carries pulley 14, the rotary speed of the throwing means 1 to6, and also the initial speed of the thrown balls can be varied withinwide limits.

it is possible to manually insert balls into the inlet opening 19, butit is preferred to provide a magazine, not shown, in which balls arestored and supplied through a chute or hopper, not shown, to the inlet19 in lateral wall 3. In order to prevent the entry of more than oneball into the interior of the throwing means 1 to 6, a blocking rod 46has a normal position crossing inlet 19 and blocking the same, see FlGS.1 and 3. The end of blocking rod 46 has a transverse portion guided in aslot 47 in lateral wall 3, so that blocking rod 46 is longitudinally andangularly movable in slot 47. The other end of blocking rod 46 isconnected to an arm 48 secured to trigger rod 27, as shown in H6. 3 andFIG. 4. When actuating portion 27a of trigger rod 27 engages actuator 36and is turned by the same to a position effecting opening of the closuremeans 21, lever 48 turns to a position in which blocking rod 46 isshifted and angularly displaced to a position spaced from inlet-l9 sothat the next following ball in the chute of the magazine, which wasresting on blocking rod 46, can enter the inner portion of guideway 1athrough inlet 19.

The invention has been described mainly with reference to an apparatusfor throwing tennis balls to a practicing player. The apparatus can alsobe used to simulate passes in a football game, and pitches in a baseballgame, using different balls. Goalkeepers for ice hockey and land hockeycan be trained by the apparatus throwing pucks and hockey balls,respectively, and it will be understood that other objects, such as claypigeons, can be thrown for target-shooting practice.

Each of the control means described above, or two or more together mayalso find a useful application in other types of training apparatus forthrowing objects, different from the embodiments described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in atraining apparatus for throwing tennis balls at different speeds,azimuth and elevation angles, it is not intended to be limited to thedetails shown, since various modifications and structural changes may bemade without departing in any way from the spirit of the presentinvention.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent isset forth in the appended claims.

1. Training apparatus for throwing objects, comprising, in combination,rotary throwing means having an axis, and including wall means forming aspiral-shaped guideway having an inner end portion in the region of saidaxis, and an outer end portion, said throwing means having an inlet intosaid inner end portion and an outlet from said outer end portion of saidguideway; drive means for rotating said throwing means about said axisso that an object inserted through said inlet into said guideway isaccelerated and driven to said outlet by the centrifugal force; closuremeans having a normal closing position for closing said outlet, and anopen position; actuating means for moving said closure means to saidopen position for passage of said object through said outlet; blockingmeans having an inoperative position, and a blocking position blockingsaid inlet so that no object can be inserted through the same into saidthrowing means; and means connecting said closure means with saidblocking means so that said inlet is blocked when said closure means ismoved to said closed position and opened when said closure means isopened.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprising first control means forvarying the rotary speed at which said throwing means is rotated by saiddrive means about said axis whereby the initial speed of the object isvaried.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said drive means include amotor and a variable transmission connecting said motor with saidthrowing means; and wherein said first control means include firstrotary cam means driven from said motor, said first cam follower meansoperatively connected with said variable transmission means forcyclically varying the transmission ratio of the same.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said axis is horizontal; andcomprising control means for operating said actuating means in differentangular positions of said throwing means in which a radial plane throughsaid outlet defines different acute elevation angles with a horizontalaxial plane whereby the distance which the objects are thrown is varied.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said actuating means includean actuator, comprising a carrier member mounted for angular adjustmentabout said axis and supporting said actuator located in the path ofmovement of said closure means for opening the same; and wherein saidcontrol means include a rotary cam means driven by said drive means, anda cam follower means operatively connected with said carrier member forcyclically varying the angular position of the same and of said actuatorin relation to said axis.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said axis is horizontal;comprising support means for supporting said throwing means for angularmovement about a vertical axis; and control means for turning saidthrowing means different azimuth angles about said vertical axis todifferent angular positions.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said control means include arotary cam means driven by said drive means and cam follower meansoperatively connected with throwing means for turning the samecyclically varied azimuth angles about said vertical axis.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprising manually operated controlmeans for continuously varying the rotary speed at which said throwingmeans is rotated by said drive means about said axis whereby the initialspeed of said object is gradually and selectively varied under controlof an operalot.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said actuating means includea rotary member rotated by said drive mean, and means connecting saidrotary member with said actuating means to effect cyclical movement ofsaid closure means to said open position by said actuating means.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprising first control means forvarying the rotary speed of said throwing means; second control meansfor operating said actuating means in different angular positions ofsaid throwing means; third control means for turning said throwing meansabout an axis transverse to said axis, fourth control means foroperating said actuating means to open said closure means atpredetermined intervals; and wherein said drive means drive all saidrotary control means in synchronism.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein said drive means include amotor and a variable transmission for driving said cams in synchronism;and comprising manually operated means connected with said variabletransmission means for varying the transmission ratio of the samewhereby said cams cyclically operate at a continuously variable speeddetermined by operation of said manually operated means.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 including driven shaft means, andmounting means for mounting said cams on said shaft means.

13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said wall means of saidrotary throwing means include a circular wall formed with said outlet, apair of lateral walls at the axial ends of said circular wall, aspiral-shaped wall located within said circular wall and having lateraledges abutting said lateral walls, an inner end portion having a smallradius of curvature, and an outer end portion having a great radius ofcurvature and ending adjacent said outlet in said circular wall, saidguideway being formed by said spiral-shaped wall between said lateralwalls; means for securing said spiral-shaped wall to said circular walland said lateral walls; wherein one of said lateral walls is formed withsaid inlet, and wherein said inlet is partly surrounded by said innerend portion of said spiralshaped wall.

14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said closure means include adouble-armed lever mounted at one end of said outlet for pivotalmovement and having a normal closing position in which one arm thereofis located at said outlet and the other arm thereof projects into saidguideway, and an open position extending radially to said axis, andlatch means for holding said double-armed lever in said normal closingposition; and wherein said actuating means include an actuator locatedin the path of movement of said latch means for releasing the same andopening said closure means in an angular position of said throwing meansin relation to said axis determined by the angular position of saidactuator.

15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said wall means includes aspiral-shaped wall having a central inner end and an outer end, andbeing wound from said outer end to said inner end in one direction; andwherein said drive means rotate said throwing means and saidspiral-shaped wall in a direction opposite to said one direction.

16. Training apparatus for throwing objects, comprising, in combination,rotary throwing means having a horizontal axis, and includingspiral-shaped wall means forming a spiralshaped guideway about saidhorizontal axis and having an inner end portion in the region of saidaxis and an outer end portion, said throwing means having an inlet intosaid inner end portion and an outlet from said outer end portion of saidguideway; drive means for rotating said throwing means about saidhorizontal axis so that an object inserted through said inlet into saidguideway is accelerated and driven through said outlet by thecentrifugal force; closure means including a closure lever having anormal closing position for closing said outlet, and an open position;actuating means operative to permit said closure means to release saidclosure lever so that said closure lever may be rotated under the forceof a thrown object to an open position for passage of said objectthrough said outlet; and control means for cyclically operating saidactuating means to open said closure means in different angularpositions of said spiral-shaped wall means in which said outer endportion of the same defines different angles with a horizontal axialplane whereby the elevation angle of the trajectory of the object anddistances which the objects are thrown are varied.

17. Training apparatus for throwing objects, comprising, in combination,rotary throwing means having an axis, and including wall means forming aspiral-shaped guideway having an inner end portion in the region of saidaxis and an outer end portion, said throwing means having an inlet intosaid inner end portion and an outlet from said outer end portion of saidguideway; drive means for rotating said throwing means about said axisso that an object inserted through said inlet into said guideway isaccelerated and driven to said outlet by the centrifugal force; closuremeans having a normal closing position for closing said outlet, and anopen position; actuating means including an actuating portion mounted onsaid throwing means and operative to permit said closure means to moveto said open position for passage of said object through said outlet,said actuating means further including an actuator, a carrier membersupporting said actuator for movement of said actuator between aninoperative position and an operative position, said actuator in saidoperative position being located in the path of movement of saidactuating portion for opening said outlet; and control means includingelectromagnetic means and a stop member operable by the same forpermitting said actuator to move to said operative position, a switchfor energizing said electromagnetic means, and rotary cam means drivenby said drive means for cyclically closing and opening said switchwhereby said closure means are cyclically moved at predetermined timeintervals to said open position.

1. Training apparatus for throwing objects, comprising, in combination,rotary throwing means having an axis, and including wall means forming aspiral-shaped guideway having an inner end portion in the region of saidaxis, and an outer end portion, said throwing means having an inlet intosaid inner end portion and an outlet from said outer end portion of saidguideway; drive means for rotating said throwing means about said axisso that an object inserted through said inlet into said guideway isaccelerated and driven to said outlet by the centrifugal force; closuremeans having a normal closing position for closing said outlet, and anopen position; actuating means for moving said closure means to saidopen position for passage of said object through said outlet; blockingmeans having an inoperative position, and a blocking position blockingsaid inlet so that no object can be inserted through the same into saidthrowing means; and means connecting said closure means with saidblocking means so that said inlet is blocked when said closure means ismoved to said closed position and opened when said closure means isopened.
 2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprising first controlmeans for varying the rotary speed at which said throwing means isrotated by said drive means about said axis whereby the initial speed ofthe object is varied.
 3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein saiddrive means include a motor and a variable transmission connecting saidmotor with said throwing means; and wherein said first control meansinclude first rotary cam means driven from said motor, said first camfollower means operatively connected with said variable transmissionmeans for cyclically varying the transmission ratio of the same. 4.Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said axis is horizontal; andcomprising control means for operating said actuating means in differentangular positions of said throwing means in which a radial plane throughsaid outlet defines different acute elevation angles with a horizontalaxial plane whereby the distance which the objects are thrown is varied.5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said actuating means includean actuator, comprising a carrier member mounted for angular adjustmentabout said axis and supporting said actuator located in the path ofmovement of said closure means for opening the same; and wherein saidcontrol means include a rotary cam means driven by said drive means, anda cam follower means operatively connected with said carrier member forcyclically varying the angular position of the same and of said actuatorin relation to said axis.
 6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 whereinsaid axis is horizontal; comprising support means for supporting saidthrowing means for angular movement about a vertical axis; and controlmeans for turning said throwing means different azimuth angles aboutsaid vertical axis to different angular positions.
 7. Apparatus Asclaimed in claim 6 wherein said control means include a rotary cam meansdriven by said drive means and cam follower means operatively connectedwith throwing means for turning the same cyclically varied azimuthangles about said vertical axis.
 8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1comprising manually operated control means for continuously varying therotary speed at which said throwing means is rotated by said drive meansabout said axis whereby the initial speed of said object is graduallyand selectively varied under control of an operator.
 9. Apparatus asclaimed in claim 1 wherein said actuating means include a rotary memberrotated by said drive mean, and means connecting said rotary member withsaid actuating means to effect cyclical movement of said closure meansto said open position by said actuating means.
 10. Apparatus as claimedin claim 1 comprising first control means for varying the rotary speedof said throwing means; second control means for operating saidactuating means in different angular positions of said throwing means;third control means for turning said throwing means about an axistransverse to said axis, fourth control means for operating saidactuating means to open said closure means at predetermined intervals;and wherein said drive means drive all said rotary control means insynchronism.
 11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein said drivemeans include a motor and a variable transmission for driving said camsin synchronism; and comprising manually operated means connected withsaid variable transmission means for varying the transmission ratio ofthe same whereby said cams cyclically operate at a continuously variablespeed determined by operation of said manually operated means. 12.Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 including driven shaft means, andmounting means for mounting said cams on said shaft means.
 13. Apparatusas claimed in claim 1 wherein said wall means of said rotary throwingmeans include a circular wall formed with said outlet, a pair of lateralwalls at the axial ends of said circular wall, a spiral-shaped walllocated within said circular wall and having lateral edges abutting saidlateral walls, an inner end portion having a small radius of curvature,and an outer end portion having a great radius of curvature and endingadjacent said outlet in said circular wall, said guideway being formedby said spiral-shaped wall between said lateral walls; means forsecuring said spiral-shaped wall to said circular wall and said lateralwalls; wherein one of said lateral walls is formed with said inlet, andwherein said inlet is partly surrounded by said inner end portion ofsaid spiral-shaped wall.
 14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 whereinsaid closure means include a double-armed lever mounted at one end ofsaid outlet for pivotal movement and having a normal closing position inwhich one arm thereof is located at said outlet and the other armthereof projects into said guideway, and an open position extendingradially to said axis, and latch means for holding said double-armedlever in said normal closing position; and wherein said actuating meansinclude an actuator located in the path of movement of said latch meansfor releasing the same and opening said closure means in an angularposition of said throwing means in relation to said axis determined bythe angular position of said actuator.
 15. Apparatus as claimed in claim1 wherein said wall means includes a spiral-shaped wall having a centralinner end and an outer end, and being wound from said outer end to saidinner end in one direction; and wherein said drive means rotate saidthrowing means and said spiral-shaped wall in a direction opposite tosaid one direction.
 16. Training apparatus for throwing objects,comprising, in combination, rotary throwing means having a horizontalaxis, and including spiral-shaped wall means forming a spiral-shapedguideway about said horizontal axis and having an inner end portioN inthe region of said axis and an outer end portion, said throwing meanshaving an inlet into said inner end portion and an outlet from saidouter end portion of said guideway; drive means for rotating saidthrowing means about said horizontal axis so that an object insertedthrough said inlet into said guideway is accelerated and driven throughsaid outlet by the centrifugal force; closure means including a closurelever having a normal closing position for closing said outlet, and anopen position; actuating means operative to permit said closure means torelease said closure lever so that said closure lever may be rotatedunder the force of a thrown object to an open position for passage ofsaid object through said outlet; and control means for cyclicallyoperating said actuating means to open said closure means in differentangular positions of said spiral-shaped wall means in which said outerend portion of the same defines different angles with a horizontal axialplane whereby the elevation angle of the trajectory of the object anddistances which the objects are thrown are varied.
 17. Trainingapparatus for throwing objects, comprising, in combination, rotarythrowing means having an axis, and including wall means forming aspiral-shaped guideway having an inner end portion in the region of saidaxis and an outer end portion, said throwing means having an inlet intosaid inner end portion and an outlet from said outer end portion of saidguideway; drive means for rotating said throwing means about said axisso that an object inserted through said inlet into said guideway isaccelerated and driven to said outlet by the centrifugal force; closuremeans having a normal closing position for closing said outlet, and anopen position; actuating means including an actuating portion mounted onsaid throwing means and operative to permit said closure means to moveto said open position for passage of said object through said outlet,said actuating means further including an actuator, a carrier membersupporting said actuator for movement of said actuator between aninoperative position and an operative position, said actuator in saidoperative position being located in the path of movement of saidactuating portion for opening said outlet; and control means includingelectromagnetic means and a stop member operable by the same forpermitting said actuator to move to said operative position, a switchfor energizing said electromagnetic means, and rotary cam means drivenby said drive means for cyclically closing and opening said switchwhereby said closure means are cyclically moved at predetermined timeintervals to said open position.